Improvement in harrows



A. HAMILTON BALLAGH, `OF WESTPORT, MISSOURI.

' Leum Paten; No. 87,819, dated March 16, 1369.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARROWS.

The Schedule referred to 1n these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. HAMILTON BALLAGH, of Westport, in the county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, have invented a new and improved Harrow; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled inthe art to make and use the same, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, forming part and e'ective barrow, of that class in which the lateral beams may be shifted, so as to bring the teeth from a vertical-to a horizontal position, or vice versa; and

It consists in the combination of devices, as hereinafter stated.

A A B is the frame, braced by a stay-rod, E, and provided with a number of oscillating cross-beams, O, which bear the barrow-teeth a.

The trunnion-ends g ofthe crosslbeams are afforded bearings, in the sides A A of the frame, as shown.

D is a connecting-beam, which is arranged on top of the part B of the frame, and the cross-beams, and is connected with the latter by means of crankirons f.

. One part of each crank-iron works loosely in the connecting-beam, and the other corresponding part works loosely in an eye in one of the adjacent teeth, the end of which latter projects sufficiently above its respective beam to aiford the proper connection.

By moving this connecting-beam to and fro, the oscillating cross-beams will be brought to present the larrow-teeth vertically or horizontally, as shown at When the teeth are vertical, the cross-beams are held firmly inthis position, by means of acatch-bolt, e, which works in a mnrtise in the beam D. A

The lower end of this catch-bolt is bevelled, so that it will pass over the part B of the trame, when the teeth `are to be brought from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

The catch-bolt contains a coiled spring within a recess,which exerts its force to push-down the bolt, after it has passed the rear edge ofthe part B, and thus act as a stop, to prevent the teeth from yielding to the resistance ofthe soil, when the harrow is drawn forward.

The coiled spring in the catch-bolt acts against a rod passing through the mortise in the beam D, and the recess in the catch-bolt, thereby causing the force of the spring to actuate `.the catch-bolt downward.

The beam D is connected, at its rear end, with a hand-lever, G, by an eye-bolt, h, andplate z', the former being affixed in the lever, and the latter bolted to the beam D, and the link and plate connected as shown.

The lower end o f the lever rests against the rounded edge of the rear cross-beam, which thus affords a fulcrum for the lever, in operating the cross-beams.

This .lever is connected with the said rear cross-beam in any loose manner that will-permit its movement.

The catch-bolt is withdrawn into the mortisc when the teeth are to be thrown back horizontally, by means of a bell-crank, d, (which is pivoteduto the catchy-bolt, and to a lug-plate, or other equivalent device on the beam D,) a rod, b, and a supplemental lever, H.

The rod connects the bell-crank with the lever, which v latter is pivoted to the lever G, as shown.

I is the iron to which the beam is attached. l The ont end ofthe beam D rides in a. deep' rectangular notch-in the part B of the frame, which notch thus serves as a guide for the beam.v

This notch is further formed with lateral channels at its base, iu which the lateral strips k, aixed to the beam D, slide freely. v

This device serves to hold the beam from being raised by the resistance of the soil, when the teeth are being brought to the vertical position.

'It will thus be seen that the teeth of the harrowmay,

by the operation of the lever G, be broughtl 4to a vertical position, cultivating the soil,and thrown forward again, when the teeth become choked up with trash, by

simply pulling back the supplemental lever H, which draws the lower end of the catchbolt entirely within the mortise inewhich the boltworks, thus allowing the beam D to move forward, in obedience to the resistance of the soil to the teeth as the' harrow moves forward.

This barrow, from its facility of operation, can be managed-by a single attendant with ease, as no lifting ofthe harrow is required in passing obstructions or turning, as 'in these latter operations, it is only required to throw back the teeth in the manner described, as will be obvious.

The red outlines,- in iig. 2, illustrate the position of the movable parts when the teeth are thrown back.

'Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters scribed.

^ A. H. BALLAGH. Witnesses:

R. F. Moons, C. O. HUFFAKER. 

